Highly Obsessed: The Snowboarding and Cycling Blog » Ski Resorts

Ski and Snowboard News Heats Up

Adam — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:27:48 +0000

I’m blogging more. It snowed here in Ontario today. And it seems like there’s more ski and snowboard news coming out every hour. Can snowboard season be just around the corner?

Here’s what I’m reading today:

If you’re live in Britain, you face the most expensive ski and snowboard season in a decade. That’s according to the Telegraph’s travel editor, who says thanks to the weak British Pound, prices at European ski resorts will be the most expensive in ten years. Bollocks!
Is it wrong to shoot a bear that bit a tourist that got in its way? Turns out a bear wandered into Whistler Village recently, and was soon surrounded by curious, camera-toting tourists. One of them got very close to the bear, and was subsequently bit on the leg. The bear was subsequently shot. The tourist is expected to be fine.
Japan’s Niseko ski resort is siphoning off visitors with its champagne powder. Maybe that will open up Upper Olympic and Lower Olympic just a wee bit more.

First Snowboarding Trip Booked: Mont Tremblant!

Adam — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:11:15 +0000

Over the past couple of years I have made it a habit of heading to Mont Tremblant. Consistently rated one of the best resorts in the east, it’s an Intrawest property with a European feel. Although the mountain is nowhere near the size of anything out west it’s still pretty big, and does the job nicely. I’m looking forwarding to going back.

This trip will be for a few days in mid-December.

For more information on Tremblant, check out our Mont Tremblant resort guide.

Vermonters Get Resort Improvements

Adam — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:07:28 +0000

First Tracks has a phenomenal overview of all the improvements that took place over the summer at ski resorts around Vermont. If you’re planning to head to Vermont this winter or live there now, you’ll definitely want to check this article out. It includes updates on Stowe, Jay Peak, Bromley, Burke Mountain and many many more.

Snow In Whistler?

Adam — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:08:10 +0000

That’s right. It’s snowing in Whistler.

Okay, so maybe it’s only snowing up in the mountain. But still… snow is snow.

To quote an email from the Whistler folks yesterday:

“When we looked up at Whistler Mountain and saw it had gotten its first dusting of snow - well, we haven’t stopped smiling since. Sure, there’s tons going on all through the fall season, with mountain biking and hiking galore, plus more outdoor adventure activities than you could shake a beautifully coloured leaf at - but that sugar-coating of snow means ski season is fast approaching.”

Okay, so it might be 31 celsius all weekend and I may be hitting the road bike, BUT … it’s nice to know that winter is on the way!

(I can hear all sorts of people I know shaking their fists at me, muttering, “you bastard! We like summer!”)

Occasional Snowboarding Picture of the Day: Symphony Bowl, Whistler

Adam — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:22:40 +0000

Top Ten Summer Ski Resorts

Adam — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:49:30 +0000

Aaaaand we’re back. Steve and are were both out of town the entire week, so posting was non-existent. One of the first interesting tidbits I came across upon my return was OnTheSnow.com’s Top Ten Summer Ski Resorts. The spread of resorts is pretty global, but I think the bottom line is fairly straightforward: if you’re in Europe or North America, there’s some glaciers to hit. If you’re in South America, you’re looking at full-on powder.

I myself will continue to swelter in the Toronto heat.

Ski Resort Web Videos: Our Take

Adam — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:22:12 +0000

Whether it’s a “vlog” or “video report” or straight-up video, ski resorts are slowly adding video content to their websites. As they do so, each resort adds their own little twist and style - with mixed results. Here are some of the ones we checked out recently.

The Canyons’ YouTube Channel

Utah’s largest ski and snowboard resort harnesses the power of YouTube quite well with this in-depth channel, which is created and maintained by the resort.

Highly Obsessed says: Big ups to a big resort who ‘gets it’.

Whistler Blackcomb Snowcast

Oh, Whistler. We had such high hopes for you, being one of North America’s largest ski resorts and all. Instead you give us highly monotonous, scripted episodes that view like a promotional video. Boo-urns. P.S. Hire a social media/web expert.

Highly Obsessed says: Just watch the Resort TV channel when you get there. It’s basically the same thing.

Mont Tremblant’s Resort TV

Despite both being Intrawest properties, Tremblant’s marketing team clearly has a leg up on Whistler’s. Tremblant’s Resort TV covers resort happenings in a straight-up, off-the-cuff fashion. Come on, Whistler. Get with it.

Highly Obsessed says: C’est bon!

Killington’s Kcast

This popular Vermont resort allows visitors to watch and upload their own videos.

Highly Obsessed says: Professional and user-submitted content makes for a compelling content mix. Also, Whistler Blackcomb should poach their director of marketing.

Got any you watch on a regular basis? We’d love to hear from you.

China Gets in on the Ski Resort Action

Adam — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:37:02 +0000

Recently The Globe and Mail ran a piece on the growth of ski resorts in China. So did Frequency, the quarterly snowboarder’s journal. The story in the Globe is more focused on the development of the real estate market as it relates to ski areas; Frequency’s story is much more about improvements within the resorts themselves, and covers local and international shreds that are coming to China to throw down.

Kadenwood: The Other Whistler Blackcomb Gondola

Adam — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:43:20 +0000

Much has been made about the new Peak-to-Peak gondola currently under construction in Whistler. The gondola, which is scheduled to be completed later this year, will link the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

One project that hasn’t made too many headlines, though, is Whistler’s other planned gondola, which will connect Whistler Creekside with Kadenwood, an exclusive neighbourhood nestled slopeside. (Apparently it is the “highest buildable point on Whistler Mountain” according to Kadenwoodhomes.com). The reason you haven’t heard of it? The gondola isn’t meant for you - it’s for the super rich. (Apologies if you are super rich. And if you are: can I have some money?)

According to a Globe and Mail article published last year:

“Now, you’re no doubt wondering how much it costs to live in this neighbourhood. Well, lots go for between $1.5-million and $2.5-million, depending on their size. Then you have to build a house on it, which in most cases is another million or two or three or four, depending on how big you want it.”

Funnily enough the article is available as a PDF on Playground.com, a website operated by Intrawest (the parent company of Whistler Blackcomb resort). The site is geared toward folks with enough dough to buy ski resort real estate and subsequently build a custom home. Not exactly a site for the common man.

Kadenwood is currently serviced by a slopeside run on the way to Creekside.

Blue Mountain Ski Resort: From the “I Didn’t Know That” Department

Adam — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:43:10 +0000

Some interesting stuff I discovered while looking around for some post content this week:

There is a ski resort in Ontario that’s taller than Blue Mountain and big enough to host an FIS-sanctioned Giant Slalom Race: The Georgian Peaks Ski Club. With a vertical of 820 feet, Georgian Peaks is Ontario’s highest and longest hill. The catch? Membership is $30k. Looks like I won’t be hitting that hill any time soon.
According to Wikipedia, Blue Mountain actually owned Georgian Peas for a while in the 1980s.
Also according to Wikipedia, Blue Mountain is Canada’s third-busiest ski resort after Whistler-Blackcomb and Mont Tremblant. Having spent a fair bit of time there over the past couple of years, I can honestly say I think that hill is at full capacity. They better look at opening The Orchard soon, or re-investigating a deal with Georgian Peaks; otherwise, the hills will soon become impossible to navigate.